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5.23.2014

Graduation! The time has finally arrived. I get to walk across the stage with my fellow peers and receive my degree. It feels like these last two years have flown by! It's amazing to me to think back to when I first started, learning about MAC addressing and subnets, to now fully completing the Associate Degree in IT Network Specialist at MATC. I truly had an amazing experience, and I am proud to have gone through an IT program at MATC. I know a lot of people will say that hard work comes from within, and it does, but honestly it's been a pleasure learning from all of my IT instructors at the school. They are all enthusiastic about what they do, and they recognize that same enthusiasm in their students as well.

I truly had an amazing experience, and I am proud to have gone through an IT program at MATC.

The final pages of this chapter of my life have been rampant with all manner of milestones. A month ago I was hired as a network engineer, and combining final exams and projects due with my daily work schedule at a new job has been crazy. One of the more important decisions I made throughout my time as a student was the decision to wait on accepting a job until I had my degree. I only caved a little when a really great job presented itself and I only had a month to go. I decided to stick it out and it worked out for the best. If I had taken a job in the middle of the program, however, I most likely would have never finished school. At least, not in the two years that I did it in. It really feels great to complete my program!

I can say this wholeheartedly, if you choose to go this course (becoming an IT student), find out which instructors are passionate about what they do, and take what they teach and or preach to heart! I really payed attention to everything they said and or recommended and it has paid off ten fold! From being sent to Cisco Live, to just learning new techniques and best practices. All of these things came back to benefit me in the end. It's not just the direct information you learn, it's the little things. Little hints that your instructor might tell you to look into. Everyday at work, I run across these little things that I keep telling myself "Oh yeah, I remember Brian telling me about this!", and it makes me glad that I paid attention. Little things like this help you when you start applying what they've trained us to do towards your day to day activities!

One of the more important decisions I made throughout my time as a student was the decision to wait on accepting a job until I had my degree.

There's a lot of things to talk about to really get the most out of your IT program, but that may have to wait for the next blog. Right now, it just feels great to get my degree and start looking towards the future with my career. We never really stop being IT students so by no means am I finished educating myself in the dark arts of technology. There's always more to learn and more to do out there. I even look forward to taking a class or two in the future with one of my old instructors.

Which brings me to the thing I valued most out of the experience. I would like to personally thank +Brian Kirsch , +Layne Davis , +Anthony Stanislawski , and +Patrick Feder for being the best damn instructors I could ever ask for! They provided mentoring and guidance for me through the entire two years of my program, spurring me on and giving advice for every situation I went through. I really wanna say from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for your support! I have a degree now, a great career, I even got a new car, and hope to get a house one day. My future outlook has completely changed for the better, and I want you guys to know that you played a direct role in it. Once again, thank you!